Singapore is one of the most wired nations around, so how realistic is it to limit screen time for children? We find out what parents here are doing with the new expert recommendations.
Singapore is one of the most wired nations around, so how realistic is it to limit screen time for children? We find out what parents here are doing with the new expert recommendations.
Many parents already know, at least vaguely, that too much screen time is bad for young kids’ development.
What they may not realise is just how bad it is for little ones to be glued to the screens of TVs, smartphones or computers.
In October last year, the authoritative American Academy of Pediatrics slashed its maximum recommended screen time for children aged two to five. The maximum recommended screen time went from two hours daily to one hour a day.
It also recommended that parents watch “high quality programming” with their children during this hour and that children younger than 18 months get zero screen time (the previous recommendation was that children below two years old should not get any screen time).
Some Singapore parents have already taken steps to set limits, like Mandy Loh.
Her smartphone and laptop are password-protected so her two children cannot access the devices on their own.
The stay-at-home mum, 37, also limits screen time for Cristan, five, and Caris, two.
They get to watch about 1½ hours of TV a day after dinner while she does the dishes and other household chores.
Mandy and her engineer husband, Tim, 37, are aware of the dangers of excessive screen time for children, which include the risk of irregular sleep schedules and behavioural problems.
However, Mandy, who blogs about parenting matters for the voluntary organisation I Love Children, admits that it would be challenging to adhere to these new guidelines when it comes to screen time.
“The children sometimes make a fuss when we switch off the TV and they’re used to their evening routine,” she says.
Parents’ struggle
She is not alone. A local study published in 2013 suggests that many other parents in Singapore struggle with limiting screen time for their kids.
It found that 66 per cent of children aged two and below were well-acquainted with gadgets such as smartphones and touchscreen tablets.
The data was collected by researchers including those from the Centre of Research and Best Practices at Singapore’s Seed Institute, a pioneer in early childhood education training.
The study indicated that excessive use of such devices can hamper a child’s development and lead to poor eyesight, among other problems.
Noeline Wong, 34, keeps her brood busy with play dates, as well as enrichment classes in art, swimming and tennis. Her four children, aged one to eight, are limited to an hour of screen time a day.
The part-time primary school teacher tries to ensure that they watch or use only educational programmes and apps, such as Mandarin DVDs. She prefers them to draw, read or attempt puzzles to occupy themselves.
But the children sometimes manage to sneak a peek at the iPad she tries to keep hidden and she gets angry when they watch programmes she does not think are appropriate.
“I tell them to Google information and we watch movies like Zootopia together as a family,” she says.
All about balance
“Children are social beings who learn through interaction with others and with the world around them,” explains Helen Marjan, CEO of director of Studies at Lorna Whiston Schools.
“In order for their brains to develop properly, they need to be exposed to a wealth of multisensory experiences, and have a rich and varied range of opportunities to learn and discover, play and create.
So while carefully curated online programmes are a way for them to learn, they shouldn’t be the only medium or the main one you offer to your child, Helen adds.
“Just as parents try to ensure their kid has a balanced diet when it comes to food, they also need to provide a balanced diet in terms of learning experiences.”
How two families set limits
IT’S OKAY TO BE BORED
Before Isaac Lim turned two years old, he had zero screen time on an iPad or a smartphone.
His parents had read that screen exposure had adverse health effects and felt that he would not understand what he viewed anyway.
He was gradually allowed to watch programmes such as Frozen, one of his favourite movies, as well as Peppa Pig cartoons and kids’ music videos so he could learn vocabulary, the alphabets and numbers.
Isaac’s father, Lim Choon Kiong, admits he wanted to keep his only child entertained, especially during meal times when he wouldn’t sit still.
The 37-year-old finance manager says: “My wife and I were paranoid about keeping him occupied. We found ourselves letting screens be our babysitter.”
But eventually, he and his wife noticed that their son was getting restless more easily and clamoured for their smartphones frequently.
So when they came across an article earlier this year about how it was all right for children to be bored as it might spark their creativity, they went “cold turkey”, Choon Kiong says. They endured Isaac’s tantrums for six months, allowing him to watch TV for just half an hour a day.
Choon Kiong now realises that “it would not be healthy in the long run if Isaac constantly needed to be entertained”.
“Now, he'll talk and play with his toys. We realised that he’s okay to be by himself.”
PARENTS SHOULD CUT DOWN, TOO
Noretta Jacob’s educational training and subsequent career in the preschool sector has guided her screen-time choices for her four-year-old daughter.
The 33-year-old senior manager of a childcare centre is aware that excessive exposure to TV, tablets and smartphones can affect children’s attention spans.
So, she encourages her daughter, Nur Laaiqah Mohamad Roslee, to engage in more sensory activities, such as playing with plasticine.
Such activities, which stimulate children’s sense of touch, smell, taste, sight and hearing, boost the development of motor skills.
Nur Laaiqah plays with Play-Doh, masak-masak (Malay for play cooking), and draws and paints. She also prepares dinner with her mum, helping to cut carrots and add salt to the food.
She is not allowed to watch TV except for an hour or two during weekends, when she might sit with her mother to watch programmes such as My Little Pony on Youtube. Noretta says such programmes contain lessons about friendship.
Noretta sees no need for an iPad for their family and does not install children’s apps on her smartphone, either.
Nur Laaiqah, who has a wooden toy telephone, usually asks her mother for permission to use only the camera in her smartphone.
Used to having little screen time, the young girl has asked her mum to put down her smartphone when they are together.
“My own challenge is to stop using my phone in front of her,” says Noretta, who checks Facebook, Whatsapp and her work e-mail on her phone.
“I’ve cut down on my phone usage and I want to model good phone etiquette for her, too.”
Why you should do a digital detox
A digital detox is a period of time during which you refrain from using all electronic devices, such as smartphones or computers, explains Helen Marjan of Lorna Whiston.
It helps reduce stress and let you focus on social interaction in the physical world.
How often and how long the detox is depends on your family’s preferences, but Helen suggests it be done at least once a month.
She emphasises: “During a digital detox, it is important that all members of the family take part, not just the kids. In this instance, the phrase ‘do as I do, not just as I say’ really does apply.”
Here, she recommends activities to occupy kids of different ages. You can find more ideas on the school’s blog (http://www.blog.lornawhiston.com) as well.
IF YOU HAVE A TODDLER
Sensory play Toddlers learn very much through their senses. Ice cubes, flour and jelly are examples of materials you can use.
Let your kid explore a variety of clean, safe materials with their fingers, nose, mouth – how do they feel? What do they taste like? These sensory experiences are wonderful ways to learn, and the mess is part of the fun.
Little artists Lay out a large piece of construction paper and spread on some wet glue. Let your toddler rip up coloured tissue paper and stick it on the glue. They’ll love ripping it apart. Let them sprinkle on some glitter. Again, don’t worry about the mess.
IF YOUR CHILD IS IN KINDERGARTEN
Magic art Try this science and art activity all rolled into one. Help your little one add four tablespoons of baking soda and four tablespoons of water to a bowl. Mix them together.
Dip a cotton swab into the mixture and paint a picture. Once the mixture has dried on the paper, have Junior wash over it with a light watercolour paint. Your child’s magic art will be revealed.
What’s that sound? This next activity actually uses technology for learning, but it certainly won’t have her glued to a screen.
Have your child think of as many different kinds of sounds that she can: nature sounds, animal sounds, happy or scary sounds, loud or soft sounds.
Now, show her how to use the sound recorder on a cellphone and let her practise recording a few sounds. Once she’s familiar with the recording device, go on a sound hunt.
After she has found as many sounds as she can, have her play them back to you and, together, guess what they are.
Revisit the recording a week later and see if she can still remember the various sounds she recorded.
IF YOUR CHILD IS IN PRIMARY SCHOOL
Fingerprint characters Using an inkpad, let her print a number of fingerprints on a piece of plain paper.
She can use a fine black pen to add features – hair, eyes, nose, mouth, legs, and background features – to create her very own fingerprint characters and scenes.
You can extend this activity by making a simple cartoon strip from fingerprint characters, and adding speech bubbles. It’s a whole lot of fun and a great way to practise writing and language skills, too.
Recycled inventions Ask your kid to think of different things a recycled box – such as a cereal box – could be made into. Could it be a mask? A musical instrument? A flying machine?
After brainstorming, give her materials such as tape, aluminium foil, coloured paper and paints, and let her imagination run wild.
Doing such projects alongside your child – and not for her – is a great way to encourage bonding and is a wonderful opportunity for conversation, too.
TEXT: VENESSA LEE/THE STRAITS TIMES. ADDITIONAL REPORTING: STEPHANIE YEO. PHOTOS: MASTERFILE.
